Customers can now swipe cards to pay for services, including registered post, speed post, parcel services

All 3,545 post offices in the twin States will allow customers to pay for postal services using credit or debit cards within in one month, said Chief Post Master General, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana circle, B.V. Sudhakar.

He was speaking at the launch of cash point sales or swiping machine sales at General Post Office (GPO), here on Saturday.

Various services

Customers can now swipe cards to pay for services, including registered post, speed post, parcel services, MeeSeva and utility bill payment services offered by post offices, among others.

A total of 345 MeeSeva services will be covered under the swipe project that is named ‘Turanth’.

Swiping service was brought to post offices as a collaborative venture between India post and State Bank of India.

The State Bank of India wwould provide all the required swipe machines in post offices, said C.R. Sasi Kumar, Deputy Managing Director of the bank.

“It simplifies the work and reduces burden on both the customer and the service provider,” said Mr. Sudhakar. On the day of its launch most transactions were made using cards, he added.

India Post, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana circle also launched ATM cash withdrawals in its post offices.

“You can use ATM cards to withdraw money up to Rs 3,000 per day from post offices in the State.

At one go customers can withdraw up to Rs.1,000 and they are allowed three transactions per day,” he said.

Useful in rural areas

The service will be useful in rural areas where there are only a few ATMs. The service was launched for the first time in the country, post office officials informed.

Officials said that India Post in Hyderabad is also developing a software that would facilitate direct debit of instant money orders and mobile money orders into customer’s SBI accounts.

To be ready in 15 days

“The facility is expected to be ready within 15 days time,” Mr. Sudhakar said, adding his department is using technology to provide economic, efficient, effective and easy services to customers.

The Postal Department is also planning to increase the parcel volume to improve its revenue generation.

Source : The Hindu